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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
An 8 page paper which analyzes Ophelia in William Shakespeare’s 'Hamlet,' to define her character’s role within the play’s structure, considers Ophelia’s mental state from the beginning to the end of her life, and examines how she was mistreated by the other characters. Bibliography lists 10 sources.
Page Count:
8 pages (~225 words per page)
File: TG15_TGoph.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
literary scholars and theater critics, who have described her as being innocent and weak; manipulative and whorish; love-sick and mad. Shakespeare delighted in ambiguity, so we may never know
how he envisioned Ophelia. There is much evidence to suggest that Ophelia, who was probably not more than 16 when she was smitten by the angst-ridden Hamlet, was naive
about the ways of the world. After her mothers death, she was surrounded by men -- father Polonius and brother Laertes -- who treated her like a child incapable
of thinking for herself, as was the Elizabethan masculine tradition. Although intended to be a minor character, the success of Shakespeares play depends on the believability of Ophelia. The
Bard applies some none-too-subtle symbolism with the name Ophelia, which is derived from the Greek word for "innocence." In his revered analysis of Shakespearean tragedy, Andrew Cecil Bradley described
the character of Ophelia as "an element, not of deep tragedy, but of pathetic beauty" (154). Bradley implies that it is Ophelia, not Hamlet, who is the core of
most of the plays dramatic action. He noted, "On this childlike nature and on Ophelias inexperience everything depends" (155). It is Ophelias dependence on others, especially men, which
defines her character. She is, in essence, a human mirror, used to reflect the desires of others (Dane gdane.html). Her inability to think for herself automatically makes Ophelia
inferior to all of the men in her life, for it is her father, brother and lover who control her actions through words and actions (White jessica.html). Although Ophelia
is intended to be simplistic and unable to comprehend the Hamlets superior mind, her own character is a study in complexity, and undergoes several transformations. She is, at various
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